that way. We told him that, as our provisions were nearly exhausted, he could best serve us if he would go back to his cabin and get from the other negroes, or any one else, such eatables as we could most readily carry. "At nightfall our faithful guide came back, bringing with him corn-meal, corn-bread, and cooked and raw bacon, upon which we all fell like wolves, and ate a good substantial supper. Gathering from him all possible information as to our route, and being led by him for some little way, we pushed on our exciting course, meeting with a variety of adventures, and finding our way to freedom about as 'hard a road as Jordan' to travel. Two days and nights passed in this sort of weary wandering, when I was startled while on watch by the distant booming of artillery. At once it occurred to us, this is old Tecumseh giving them a little serenade at Columbia !' Inspirited by this music, we started on again, heading for Wilmington, N. C. Through swamps and roads, weary, hungry, and ragged, we still held on our route, until we came across another negro. He also proved a friend in need, and from him we learned that we were near one of the principal roads, and that his master said that probably some of General Sherman's army would pass that way, and advised us, instead of trying to pass the rebel lines to reach our own, to let him secrete us in one of those almost impenetrable swamps, and there wait for the rebels to pass and our army to come up. At midnight his son came to guide us to his father's cabin. We were introduced to his wife, who had prepared a substantial supper for us. I can't remember all the courses, but the principal feature was an immense roasted goose, with appropriate fixtures, thinking of which even now makes my mouth water. The way that we went for that fowl, and the other things on the table, would have astonished any member of a civilized community, I think. After concluding our supper, we all sat around the fire-place and had a good smoke, and then, having expressed our thanks to our hostess, we started for the swamp. Here we were secreted for nearly a week, visited nightly by our colored friend, who brought us provisions, and cheered our hearts by his own hopeful assur ances. Near the close of this week of confinement he brought the glad news that Sherman's troops had come up, and led us to one of the cabins near his own, where we found the orderly of General Howard. By him we were taken to headquarters, and there met such a reception as only the blue-coats could give us. We were fitted out with clothing contributed by our fellow-officers, and in due season were forwarded to Wilmington, and thence to New York. Thus ended our life of captivity, and our long and exciting escape from the prison-pen of Columbia and the land of Dixie. H. F. COWLES." The fittest conclusion we can make to this chapter on the sufferings of our heroes in these wretched spots, is in the words taken from a letter in the "American Missionary," dated Atlanta, Ga., May 13, 1867. 6 - "Did they ever imagine, those rebel officers, who used our poor boys to erect those buildings, - buildings put up to enable them to hold thirty thousand prisoners in unheard of tortures, did they imagine to what use these buildings were to be put so soon? Did they dream that the wail of the captive would scarcely be hushed, and the last victim laid to sleep his last sleep in those awful witness-bearing trenches, before two angels of mercy should take up their abode there, transforming that hell upon earth into a little earthly heaven? Yes, Andersonville' has been cleansed and sanctified, and, thank God, by the purity, the presence, the labor and the love of woman. Where the rebel soldiers' jeer and oath used to be heard, now daily ascends the sweet sound of prayer and praise. For the howl of the hungry hound, eager to chase the perishing Union fugitive, you may now hear the sweet voices of the children blending in song. The jailor has fled, haunted by the memory of his crimes (for Wirtz was not alone in the charge), and two gentle women have taken possession of his dwelling. The persecuted slave has found a shelter in the huts erected by his persecutors, and the freedman's corn is now growing in the empty stockade." In 1868 we were permitted to attend a school meeting in what was part of the barracks of the rebel garrison. Here in this place of saddest memories, a school had been opened, through Northern benevolence, in which was gathered from near and far, those who were hungry for knowledge. We listened to their weird songs, learned in the dark days of their bondage, and then speaking words of cheer to them, reminded them of their new responsibilities, resulting from their lately gained liberty, which had at last lifted them to the dignity of freemen and citizens. From the schoolhouse, where we watched with a pathetic sort of interest the bright eyed boys and girls recite, we crossed the yard, passing what was formerly the rebel officers' quarters, and took our course to the stockade. Within the inclosure we stood awhile, its suffering memories coming back to us, and thought of the change that had come over this once populous and dreary spot. Thence we went to the cemetery, hard by, where rest the twelve thousand that were borne from out the awful prison to grateful sepulture. The trees were just coming out in their new spring foliage, the air was resonant with singing birds, the mellow light of the setting sun irradiated the simple white head-boards, which had been erected by our Government to mark the close and neatly arranged graves of our martyred dead, while over their sleeping dust the southern pines cast their benignant shade, and swept by the evening breeze, made a low dirge-like music. There, standing in the silence of that beautiful cemetery, where the unnamed thousands of our patriotic dead lie buried, over whose graves the National Government watches, I thought of the change that even here had taken place. What was but a little while before a rude burial spot, in which the lifeless forms of once brave and fondly loved men were hurriedly laid in the long and fast filling trenches, was now a tastefully arranged cemetery. Each grave was designated and carefully turfed, while ramifying paths led every whither through this sacred inclosure; and over the principal gate of the cemetery were the following appropriate lines: "The muffled drum's sad roll has beat The soldiers' last tattoo, No more on life's parade shall meet The brave and daring few. On Fame's eternal camping ground And glory guards with solemn round, This was the altered and redeemed Andersonville. Prison days were ended, the rude cheap sepulture of lamented dead, had ceased, and on every side appeared the signs of "the good time coming," in which these sleeping heroes believed, and for the hastening on of which they devoted life itself. We thanked God for the change, and breathed a prayer of thanksgiving for what the sacrificial sufferings of those all about us in their quiet graves, had accomplished, and took hope for that better future, whose dawn we even here beheld. "New England! on thy spotless shield, inscribe thine honored dead, Oh! keep their memory fresh and green, when turf blooms o'er their head; And coming nations yet unborn, will read, with glowing pride, Of those who bore thy conquering arms, and suffering, fought and died; XIV. 1865. CLOSE of THE WAR.-FALL OF RICHMOND. "Thank God! the bloody days are past, But lead our heroes home from strife! "Thank God! there beams o'er land and sea Our blazing Star of Victory; And everywhere, from main to main, GEORGE H. BOKER. THE quiet of the grand army under Grant, during the eventful winter of 1864-5, was part of that General's strategy. Instead of wishing to drive the Rebel Government and army from the banks of the James, he was only apprehensive that they would voluntarily abandon Virginia for a time, and that Lee would attempt to attack Sherman, as he was making his splendid though hazardous march to the sea. This expedient, however, seems not to have occurred to the Confederate leaders. Prior to the opening of the Spring Campaign, General Lee had been appointed to the command of all the armies of the Confederacy, and as indicative of the desperate condition in which the rebels found themselves, the Legislature of Virginia on the Sixteenth of February, 1865, passed resolutions, "authorizing, and consenting that such number of able bodied slaves |